“What was your relationshipwith Kirk Miller?”
“We’d gone out a few times. I didn’t know he was married, I swear,” the woman replied.
“Not the first time I’ve heard that today,” Jake replied. “So, tell me what happened the night Kirk was murdered.”
“After work we went out for drinks at the Purple Nurple.”
I wrinkled my nose. The Purple Nurple was basically a cheap and crappy watering hole. It was dirty and only creeperspartook of whatever was being sold there, perfect for picking up prostitutes or wooing your mistress.
“Everything was going well until Kirk got a phone call,” she continued. “I don’t know what was said, but he looked really upset. He turned to look outside and there was this big guy standing in the window watching us. It was creepy.”
“Did you get a good look at the man?” Jake asked.
A groupof people were heading my direction. Cursing their bad timing, I peeled my ear from the door and turned on my heel. Jake had found another suspect and I couldn’t wait to tell Dylan about it.
* * *
Dylan
“Hey,” I said into myphone, feeling my cheeks burn from the stupid smile I couldn’t help. I slipped outside for some privacy. “How are you?”
“Good,” Asher said. “Addison said you pickedout a dress for the dinner. I can’t wait to see you in it.”
Now if that didn’t turn me into a puddle of goo... “Yeah.” I bit my lip. “Thanks for that, by the way.”
“My pleasure. Trust me, Dylan, I’m planning on getting my money’s worth.”
“What?” I asked, sure I’d misheard him.
He chuckled.
I gasped. “Asher Allen, what kind of girl do you think I am?”
“The kind who is willing to get alldressed up in order to save me from dying of boredom at this dinner. Why? What did you think I meant by that?”
My cheeks felt like they were about to burst into flames. I cleared my throat, trying to think of a response, but came up with nothing. Thankfully Asher saved me.
“Oh, hey, I almost forgot why I called you,” he said. “I have a friend who’s a tax attorney. I showed her that spreadsheetand she confirmed that there’s definitely something fishy about it. She has a friend pretty high up in the IRS and has suggested to her that they audit the business.”
“What? Ohmigod, that’s great!”
A couple of mourners were smoking not far from me. They gave me weird looks so I turned back toward the building.
“Yeah, well, sometimes the IRS moves pretty slowly. I’m hoping they’re able to getright on this.”
“Me too.” Like, long before my case went to trial.
“I have to go meet with a client, but I wanted to call and share the good news. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Thanks, Ash.” There were so many things I wanted to say, but even if I had the words, he didn’t have time. “This means a lot to me. I’ll talk to you later.”
I disconnected and headed back into the building, making adetour at the bathroom. When I went into the last stall, movement high on the wall caught my eye. A water bug shuffled forward a few steps then stopped—its path blocked by a large pipe. Thankful I was wearing flats, I climbed up on the toilet seat and plucked the little guy from the wall.
“Need some help?” I asked.
The bathroom door swung open and someone made a shushing noise. Since I didn’twant to be seen by any of the funeral goers, I ducked down—the bug still in my hands—and hid.
I heard footsteps walk the length of the stalls and then turn back. “Okay, it’s clear. Now we can talk.”
